Long enjoyed the best season of his career for five years this term, scoring 13 goals in all competitions for the Saints as well as netting three for the Republic of Ireland as he helped them qualify for Euro 2016.

However, the striker will turn 30 halfway through next season, and Klopp already has Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino, Danny Ings, and Christian Benteke at his disposal in attack.

Even despite the injury worries of Sturridge, Origi, and Ings, and the fact that Benteke seems almost certain to be sold this summer, the Reds appear to be far from paper-thin up front.

One huge concern for Liverpool fans regarding the report will be the suggestion that Southampton and their manager Ronald Koeman could look for around £25 million to part with Long this summer.

Reds supporters will be seriously worried about seeing their club get their fingers burnt again after the failed experiment of paying £32.5 million to bring Benteke to Anfield, and they made their reservations known in no uncertain terms on Twitter.

If Liverpool even bid £25 million in the summer for Shane Long then somebody needs to get fired. I hope this is just a random rumour.

However, other fans were not as averse to the idea, and suggested that the Reds could do worse than bring Long to the club as another option in attack, although the reported price remained an understandable sticking point.

Tom Nightingale

After starting to write about football due to lack of any great ability on the pitch, Tom is an NCTJ-qualified sports reporter who has written for Swansea City, the Birmingham Mail, and numerous other publications. An avid Aston Villa fan, he still hasn't got over them not turning up in the 2015 FA Cup final.